Improvement in construction of ships



v TQALLEN. CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS.

Patented J'une13,18 76.

fims'nlr THEODORE ALLEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,703, dated June 13, 1876; application filed September 18, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE ALLEN, of

'St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Method of Gonstructing the Bulls of Vessels, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of vessels which are con structed with an exterior plating or skin of metal, in order to produce what is known as an iron hull.

Such class of vessels, as heretofore con-' structed, have been made with what is known as transverse structure or framing .that is, where the frames of the vessels are arranged at right angles to the keel-forming'ribs, to

which the iron skin or plating is directly secured by rivets. This class of vessels has also where the girth diminishes, the iron skin or plating being secured to said longitudinal frames, and stiffened and supported between the latter by cross-frames, which are secured to the skin and the longitudinal frame by rivets.

The objections to this construction of the hulls of vessels, among other things, is that when the vessel comes'in contact with a snag or other rigid object the plating yields between the cross-frames, and -is pressed upward, and as the vessel continues to move the non-elasticity or rigidity of the plating, when the cross-frame is encountered, causes either the plating to be torn. from the bottom, or the snag punches its way through the same.

The object of my present invention is to obviate these objections, and to so construct the hull that, while great strength and lightness are secured, the liability of the iron plating becoming ruptured or injured from any such cause as above stated is entirely obviated; and to this end my invention consists, first, in the method hereinafter specifically described of constructing the hulls of iron vessels-that is to say, arranging and supporting the iron plating or skin of the vessel, at any point below the water-line thereof, at a distance from the cross-frames which strengthen and brace the longitudinal frames, in such manner that the skin does not bear against any of the cross-frames, and an uninterrupted flexibility of the plating between the frames is obtained,

and such portions are permitted to readily yield in the direction of the keel of thevessel,

and thereby rupture of the plating between the longitudinal frames is prevented, while the strength, durability, and lightness of the vessel are much improved.

The invention consists, secondly, in connecting the transverse bulk-heads, where the latter are introduced for the purpose of dividing the hold of the vessel into water-tight compartments,- with the iron skin or plating by means of sheets of rubber or other elastic or flexible material, for the purpose of maintainin g the flexibility of the plating between the longitudinal frames from stem to stern, and permitting such portions to readily yield should they come in contact with a snag or other obstacle.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the manner of carrying out my invention, Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section of a vessel embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section there of; Fig. 3, an enlarged detached view, on the line 3 y of Fig. 1, and. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached view, on the line a; w of Fig. 2, showing the manner of flexibly connecting the transverse bulk-heads with the iron skin of the hull.

I will now proceed to give a detailed description of the manner of constructing the iron hulls of vessels according to my inven tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In vessels intended for shallow waters the requirements to procure light draft render it necessary to constructthe vessels withflat bottoms and straight sides, with only such shape to the extremities as is essential to diminish the head or forward resistance, and enable the vessel to be readily manipulated and governed in its movements, and I have, therefore, represented my invention as embodied in the construction of a vessel of this description.

The letters A A represent the usual longitudinal frames, which are arranged to run parallel with the keel, and B B the transverse or cross frames, which strengthen and brace the longitudinals.

D D represent the iron skin or plating, which may be of an y preferred construction, and which isattached to the longitudinal frames A. The iron skin orplating is supported and held by the longitudinals at a distance from the cross-frames which strengthen said longitudinals, and the skin is not in contact with any of the crossframes below the water-line of the vessel, from the, V

stem to stern of the latter, whereby an uninterrupted flexibility of the plating is obtained between the longitudinals, and the same is permitted to readily yield at such portions, should they come in contact with a snag or other object. In order that the longitudinal frames shall be stiffened by transverse bracing, to keep them in their proper position, I

introduce, at suitable intervals inthelength of the. hull, a partialbulk-head, H, which extends down to within a short distanceof the skin. The plate which forms this partial bulkhead extends above the toplongitudinal floors,

and is secured to an angle-iron, I, which is .made continuous-from the central bulk-head to the beam'shelf, as shown in Fig. 1,thercby eflectually tying all the longitudinals together, and preventing their buckling when under compressive strain.

In order to divide the hold of: the vessel into water-tightcompartmen ts, I introducetransverse bulk-heads, the lower ends of which terminate. at some distance from the skin of the vessel, and the end of the plate forming the bulk-head is connected with the skin by means ot' a sheet, K, of rubber, sheet metal, or other elastic or flexible material. The sheets of flexible material are made sufficiently long to permit them to be carried a short distance. along the skin ofi the vessel, to which they are fastened by light strips L of wood or iron, of sufficient strength to resist the pressure of a head of water equal to the depthof the hold. By thusconnectin g the bulkhead with the skin of the vessel thecontinuity of the elasticity of the skin between the longitudinal frames is maintained, while a tight joint is. secured.

In order to illustrate the principle ot' toyin-v vention, we will suppose that the vessel comes in contact with a snag just sufficiently near the bottom to permit the vessel to he forced upon it. The vessel willrise a little and pass becomes too great for the power of the vessel,

it will stop. This function is due to the fact that it is very diflicult, as every one is aware, to punch a hole through a piece of iron unless the latter is supported by a solid and rigid base. y I would here remark that one or more of the transverse bulk-heads and intercostal plates may be made to rest upon or be secured to the iron skin or plating at certain intervals apart without departing from the. spirit and intent of my invention, and I, therefore, do not desire to restrict myself; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent is l The method of constructing the hulls of vessels, substantially as hereinbefore described-that is to say, arranging the iron 1 skin or platingof the vesflQl below the waterline thereof, at a distance from the cross-frames which strengthen. and support the; longitudinal frames, whereby an uninterrupted flexibility of the skin betweenthelongitudinals is l obtained, and such portions permitted to read- 1 ily yield, for the object set, forth.

2.. The, iron skin of a vessel supported at a distance from the cross-frames. by means of the longitudinal frames,substantially as hereinbel'ore described, whereby an uninterrupted flexibility of the plating is obtained between the longitudinal frames, as and for the object In. testimony that I claim the foregoing, I

have hereunto set my hand in the. presence of the subscribing witnesses.

THEODORE ALLEN.

Witnesses:

M10. D. PATTEN, A. H. NoRRIs. 

